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Greater Bridgeport Regional Business Survey
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1.
Please select the industry that best represents your business.
(Required.)
Agriculture
Mining, Oil, and Gas Extraction
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Information
Finance and Insurance
Real Estate
Professional, Technical, and Scientific Services
Management of Companies
Administrative and Support Services
Waste Management
Education Services
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Accommodation and Food Services
Other Services (Except Public Administration)
Public Administration
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2.
Which municipality is your workplace located in?
(Required.)
Bridgeport
Easton
Fairfield
Monroe
Stratford
Trumbull
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3.
Approximately how many employees work at your organization?
(Required.)
1-9
10-49
50-99
100-249
250-499
500-999
1000+
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4.
Please select the best description of your operation in the Greater Bridgeport Region.
(Required.)
Headquarters
Branch Operation
Franchise Operation
Sales Office
Service Location
Warehouse Location
Manufacturing/Assembly
Single Location
Other (please specify)
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5.
Please select the following descriptions that best describe your business operations in the Region (please select all that apply).
(Required.)
Large Business (3yr average sales over $25 Million)
Small Business (3yr average sales between $1 Million and $25 Million)
Micro Business (3yr average sales under $1 Million)
Minority Owned (minimum 50% ownership)
Woman Owned (minimum 50% ownership)
Small Disadvantaged (Federal definition)
Veteran Owned (minimum 50% ownership)
Enterprise Zone
Opportunity Zone
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6.
How long have you operated in the Region?
(Required.)
Less than 1 year
1-3 years
4-6 years
7-9 years
10-15 years
16-20 years
More than 20 years
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7.
Which of the following services could help your business? (select all that apply)
(Required.)
Business start-up assistance
Business management training
Workforce training programs
Local business climate updates
Coordinated local business marketing
Federal/State financing programs
Local financing programs
Business incentive programs
Industrial revenue bonds
Technical assistance (tax preparation, accounting, permitting)
Workforce recruitment assistance
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8.
Which workforce development services would be most useful for your organization? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Technical/skills training
Leadership or management training
Apprenticeship programs
Internship programs
Digital skills training
English language training
Customer service training
Manufacturing skills training
Healthcare workforce training
Certification programs
Other (please specify)
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9.
How difficult is it for your organization to find qualified workers? (select one)
(Required.)
Very easy
Easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Difficult
Very difficult
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10.
Which skills are currently hardest to find in employees? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Technical skills
Trade skills
Management/leadership
Customer service
Communication
Digital/computer skills
Problem solving
Entry-level workforce
Skilled labor
Other (please specify)
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11.
What are the biggest barriers to retaining employees? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Wage expectations
Housing affordability
Transportation access
Childcare availability
Competition from nearby employers
Competition from employers outside the region
Work-life balance
Lack of training opportunities
Career Mobility
Other (please specify)
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12.
How do most employees commute to work? (select one)
(Required.)
Personal vehicle
Carpool
Bus/transit
Train
Walking/biking
Remote work
Mixed methods
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13.
To what extent do transportation/infrastructure challenges affect employees at your organization? (select one)
(Required.)
Major issue
Moderate issue
Minor issue
Not an issue
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14.
What transportation improvements would most benefit your workforce? (select up to three)
(Required.)
More reliable bus service
Expanded transit routes
More frequent train service
Better road conditions
Bicycle and pedestrian improvements
Employer shuttle options
Improved connections between municipalities
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15.
How much does housing affordability impact your ability to attract or retain workers? (select one)
(Required.)
Significant impact
Moderate impact
Minor impact
No impact
Unsure
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16.
What types of housing would most benefit the regional workforce? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Workforce housing
Affordable housing
Market-rate housing
Starter homes
Rental apartments
Mixed-use development
Senior housing
Student housing
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17.
Are you aware of existing business financing or incentive programs available through local, state, or federal agencies?
(Required.)
Yes, very aware
Somewhat aware
Heard of them but unfamiliar
Not aware
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18.
Which financing or business assistance programs would you be most interested in learning about that may be applicable to your business? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Small business loans
Tax incentives
Grants
Site redevelopment assistance
Brownfield assistance
Workforce incentives
Energy efficiency incentives
Start-up assistance
Other (please specify)
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19.
Which regional assets do you believe provide the greatest opportunities for economic growth? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Metro-North access
Proximity to other major employment areas
Highway access
Waterfront development
Anchor institutions
Manufacturing base
Educational institutions
Downtown revitalization and redevelopment
Tourism and entertainment
Small business growth
Skilled workforce
Other (please specify)
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20.
What challenges most limit economic growth in the Greater Bridgeport Region? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Cost of doing business
Taxes
Workforce shortages
Housing affordability
Transportation
Public perception/image
Infrastructure conditions
Availability of developable land
Regulations/permitting
Access to financing
Lack of business support services
Lack of economic/business synergies
Other (please specify)
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21.
Do you believe the Greater Bridgeport Region is becoming more or less attractive for businesses?
(Required.)
Much more attractive
Somewhat more attractive
About the same
Somewhat less attractive
Much less attractive
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22.
What types of projects or investment should MetroCOG prioritize over the next five years? (select up to three)
(Required.)
Transportation improvements
Workforce development programs
Small business support
Downtown revitalization
Affordable/workforce housing
Redevelopment of vacant sites
Infrastructure upgrades
Tourism and placemaking initiatives
Business attraction initiatives
Environmental improvements
Other (please specify)